'Youhaveseenhisletterscometomeeversincehisfirstvisit，papa，andyouknewtheywereasortof——love-letters；andsincehehasbeenhereyouhavelethimbealonewithmealmostentirely；
　　andyouguessed，youmusthaveguessed，whatwewerethinkingof，anddoing，andyoudidn'tstophim。Nexttolove-makingcomeslove-winning，andyouknewitwouldcometothat，papa。'
　　Thevicarparriedthiscommon-sensethrust。'Iknow——sinceyoupressmeso——IknowIdidguesssomechildishattachmentmightarisebetweenyou；IownIdidnottakemuchtroubletopreventit；butIhavenotparticularlycountenancedit；and，Elfride，howcanyouexpectthatIshouldnow？Itisimpossible；nofatherinEnglandwouldhearofsuchathing。'
　　'Butheisthesameman，papa；thesameineveryparticular；andhowcanhebelessfitformethanhewasbefore？'
　　'Heappearedayoungmanwithwell-to-dofriends，andalittleproperty；buthavingneither，heisanotherman。'
　　'Youinquirednothingabouthim？'
　　'IwentbyHewby'sintroduction。Heshouldhavetoldme。Soshouldtheyoungmanhimself；ofcourseheshould。Iconsideritamostdishonourablethingtocomeintoaman'shouselikeatreacherousI-don't-know-what。'
　　'Buthewasafraidtotellyou，andsoshouldIhavebeen。Helovedmetoowelltoliketoruntherisk。Andastospeakingofhisfriendsonhisfirstvisit，Idon'tseewhyheshouldhavedonesoatall。Hecamehereonbusiness:itwasnoaffairofourswhohisparentswere。Andthenheknewthatifhetoldyouhewouldneverbeaskedhere，andwouldperhapsneverseemeagain。Andhewantedtoseeme。Whocanblamehimfortrying，byanymeans，tostaynearme——thegirlheloves？Allisfairinlove。Ihaveheardyousaysoyourself，papa；andyouyourselfwouldhavedonejustashehas——sowouldanyman。'
　　'Andanyman，ondiscoveringwhatIhavediscovered，wouldalsodoasIdo，andmendmymistake；thatis，getshotofhimagain，assoonasthelawsofhospitalitywillallow。'ButMr。SwancourtthenrememberedthathewasaChristian。'Iwouldnot，fortheworld，seemtoturnhimoutofdoors，'headded；'butIthinkhewillhavethetacttoseethathecannotstaylongafterthis，withgoodtaste。'
　　'Hewill，becausehe'sagentleman。Seehowgracefulhismannersare，'Elfridewenton；thoughperhapsStephen'smanners，likethefeatsofEuryalus，owedtheirattractivenessinhereyesrathertotheattractivenessofhispersonthantotheirownexcellence。
　　'Ay；anybodycanbewhatyoucallgraceful，ifhelivesalittletimeinacity，andkeepshiseyesopen。Andhemighthavepickeduphisgentlemanlinessbygoingtothegalleriesoftheatres，andwatchingstagedrawing-roommanners。HeremindsmeofoneoftheworststoriesIeverheardinmylife。'
　　'Whatstorywasthat？'
　　'Ohno，thankyou!Iwouldn'ttellyousuchanimpropermatterfortheworld!'
　　'IfhisfatherandmotherhadlivedinthenorthoreastofEngland，'gallantlypersistedElfride，thoughhersobsbegantointerruptherarticulation，'anywherebuthere——you——wouldhave——
　　onlyregarded——HIM，andnotTHEM!Hisstation——wouldhave——beenwhat——hisprofessionmakesit，——andnotfixedby——hisfather'shumbleposition——atall；whomheneverliveswith——now。ThoughJohnSmithhassavedlotsofmoney，andisbetteroffthanweare，theysay，orhecouldn'thaveputhissontosuchanexpensiveprofession。Anditiscleverand——honourable——ofStephen，tobethebestofhisfamily。'
　　'Yes。"Letabeastbelordofbeasts，andhiscribshallstandattheking'smess。”'
　　'Youinsultme，papa!'sheburstout。'Youdo，youdo!HeismyownStephen，heis!'
　　'Thatmayormaynotbetrue，Elfride，'returnedherfather，againuncomfortablyagitatedinspiteofhimself'Youconfusefutureprobabilitieswithpresentfacts，——whattheyoungmanmaybewithwhatheis。Wemustlookatwhatheis，notwhatanimprobabledegreeofsuccessinhisprofessionmaymakehim。Thecaseisthis:thesonofaworking-maninmyparishwhomayormaynotbeabletobuymeup——ayouthwhohasnotyetadvancedsofarintolifeastohaveanyincomeofhisowndeservingthename，andthereforeofhisfather'sdegreeasregardsstation——wantstobeengagedtoyou。HisfamilyarelivinginpreciselythesamespotinEnglandasyours，sothroughoutthiscounty——whichistheworldtous——youwouldalwaysbeknownasthewifeofJackSmiththemason'sson，andnotunderanycircumstancesasthewifeofaLondonprofessionalman。Itisthedrawback，notthecompensatingfact，thatistalkedofalways。There，saynomore。Youmayargueallnight，andprovewhatyouwill；I'llsticktomywords。'
　　Elfridelookedsilentlyandhopelesslyoutofthewindowwithlargeheavyeyesandwetcheeks。
　　'Icallitgreattemerity——andlongtocallitaudacity——inHewby，'resumedherfather。'Ineverheardsuchathing——givingsuchahobbledehoynativeofthisplacesuchanintroductiontomeashedid。NaturallyyouweredeceivedaswellasIwas。Idon'tblameyouatall，sofar。'HewentandsearchedforMr。Hewby'soriginalletter。'Here'swhathesaidtome:"DearSir，——
　　Agreeablytoyourrequestofthe18thinstant，Ihavearrangedtosurveyandmakedrawings，"etcetera。"Myassistant，Mr。StephenSmith"——assistant，youseehecalledhim，andnaturallyI
　　understoodhimtomeanasortofpartner。Whydidn'thesay"clerk"？'
　　'Theynevercallthemclerksinthatprofession，becausetheydonotwrite。Stephen——Mr。Smith——toldmeso。SothatMr。Hewbysimplyusedtheacceptedword。'
　　'Letmespeak，please，Elfride!"Myassistant，Mr。StephenSmith，willleaveLondonbytheearlytrainto-morrowmorning……MANY
　　THANKSFORYOURPROPOSALTOACCOMMODATEHIM……YOUMAYPUTEVERY
　　CONFIDENCEINHIM，andmayrelyuponhisdiscernmentinthematterofchurcharchitecture。”Well，IrepeatthatHewbyoughttobeashamedofhimselfformakingsomuchofapoorladofthatsort。'
　　'ProfessionalmeninLondon，'Elfrideargued，'don'tknowanythingabouttheirclerks'fathersandmothers。Theyhaveassistantswhocometotheirofficesandshopsforyears，andhardlyevenknowwheretheylive。Whattheycando——whatprofitstheycanbringthefirm——that'sallLondonmencareabout。Andthatishelpedinhimbyhisfacultyofbeinguniformlypleasant。'
　　'Uniformpleasantnessisratheradefectthanafaculty。Itshowsthatamanhasn'tsenseenoughtoknowwhomtodespise。'
　　'Itshowsthatheactsbyfaithandnotbysight，asthoseyouclaimsuccessionfromdirected。'
　　'That'ssomemoreofwhathe'sbeentellingyou，Isuppose!Yes，I
　　wasinclinedtosuspecthim，becausehedidn'tcareaboutsaucesofanykind。Ialwaysdiddoubtaman'sbeingagentlemanifhispalatehadnoacquiredtastes。Anunedifiedpalateistheirrepressibleclovenfootoftheupstart。Theideaofmybringingoutabottleofmy'40Martinez——onlyelevenofthemleftnow——toamanwhodidn'tknowitfromeighteenpenny!ThentheLatinlinehegavetomyquotation；itwasverycut-and-dried，very；orI，whohaven'tlookedintoaclassicalauthorforthelasteighteenyears，shouldn'thaverememberedit。Well，Elfride，youhadbettergotoyourroom；you'llgetoverthisbitoftomfooleryintime。'
　　'No，no，no，papa，'shemoaned。Forofallthemiseriesattachingtomiserablelove，theworstisthemiseryofthinkingthatthepassionwhichisthecauseofthemallmaycease。
　　'Elfride，'saidherfatherwithroughfriendliness，'Ihaveanexcellentschemeonhand，whichIcannottellyouofnow。A
　　schemetobenefityouandme。Ithasbeenthrustuponmeforsomelittletime——yes，thrustuponme——butIdidn'tdreamofitsvaluetillthisafternoon，whentherevelationcame。Ishouldbemostunwisetorefusetoentertainit。'
　　'Idon'tlikethatword，'shereturnedwearily。'Youhavelostsomuchalreadybyschemes。Isitthosewretchedminesagain？'
　　'No；notaminingscheme。'
　　'Railways？'
　　'Norrailways。Itislikethosemysteriousoffersweseeadvertised，bywhichanygentlemanwithnobrainsatallmaymakesomuchaweekwithoutrisk，trouble，orsoilinghisfingers。
　　However，Iamintendingtosaynothingtillitissettled，thoughIwilljustsaythismuch，thatyousoonmayhaveotherfishtofrythantothinkofStephenSmith。Remember，Iwish，nottobeangry，butfriendly，totheyoungman；foryoursakeI'llregardhimasafriendinacertainsense。Butthisisenough；inafewdaysyouwillbequitemywayofthinking。There，now，gotoyourbedroom。Unityshallbringyouupsomesupper。Iwishyounottobeherewhenhecomesback。'
　　ChapterX
　　'Beneaththeshelterofanagedtree。'
　　Stephenretracedhisstepstowardsthecottagehehadvisitedonlytwoorthreehourspreviously。HedrewnearandundertherichfoliagegrowingabouttheoutskirtsofEndelstowPark，thespottylightsandshadesfromtheshiningmoonmaintainingaraceoverhisheadanddownhisbackinanendlessgambol。Whenhecrossedtheplankbridgeandenteredthegarden-gate，hesawanilluminatedfigurecomingfromtheenclosedplottowardsthehouseontheotherside。Itwashisfather，withhishandinasling，takingageneralmoonlightviewofthegarden，andparticularlyofaplotoftheyoungestofyoungturnips，previoustoclosingthecottageforthenight。
　　Hesalutedhissonwithcustomaryforce。'Hallo，Stephen!Weshouldha'beeninbedinanothertenminutes。Cometoseewhat'sthematterwi'me，Isuppose，mylad？'
　　Thedoctorhadcomeandgone，andthehandhadbeenpronouncedasinjuredbutslightly，thoughitmightpossiblyhavebeenconsideredafarmoreseriouscaseifMr。Smithhadbeenamoreimportantman。Stephen'sanxiousinquirydrewfromhisfatherwordsofregretattheinconveniencetotheworldofhisdoingnothingforthenexttwodays，ratherthanofconcernforthepainoftheaccident。Togethertheyenteredthehouse。
　　JohnSmith——brownasautumnastoskin，whiteaswinterastoclothes——wasasatisfactoryspecimenofthevillageartificerinstone。Incommonwithmostruralmechanics，hehadtoomuchindividualitytobeatypical'working-man'——aresultantofthatbeach-pebbleattritionwithhiskindonlytobeexperiencedinlargetowns，whichmetamorphosestheunitSelfintoafractionoftheunitClass。
　　Therewasnotthespecialityinhislabourwhichdistinguishesthehandicraftsmenoftowns。Thoughonlyamason，strictlyspeaking，hewasnotabovehandlingabrick，ifbricksweretheorderoftheday；oraslateortile，ifaroofhadtobecoveredbeforethewetweathersetin，andnobodywasnearwhocoulddoitbetter。
　　Indeed，ononeortwooccasionsinthedepthofwinter，whenfrostperemptorilyforbidsalluseofthetrowel，makingfoundationstosettle，stonestofly，andmortartocrumble，hehadtakentofellingandsawingtrees。Moreover，hehadpractisedgardeninginhisownplotforsomanyyearsthat，onanemergency，hemighthavemadealivingbythatcalling。
　　Probablyourcountrymanwasnotsuchanaccomplishedartificerinaparticulardirectionashistownbrethreninthetrades。Buthewas，intruth，likethatclumsypin-makerwhomadethewholepin，andwhowasdespisedbyAdamSmithonthataccountandrespectedbyMacaulay，muchmoretheartistnevertheless。
　　Appearingnow，indoors，bythelightofthecandle，hisstalwarthealthinesswasasighttosee。HisbeardwascloseandknottedasthatofachiselledHercules；hisshirtsleeveswerepartlyrolledup，hiswaistcoatunbuttoned；thedifferenceinhuebetweenthesnowylinenandtheruddyarmsandfacecontrastinglikethewhiteofanegganditsyolk。Mrs。Smith，onhearingthementer，advancedfromthepantry。
　　Mrs。Smithwasamatronwhosecountenanceaddresseditselftothemindratherthantotheeye，thoughnotexclusively。Sheretainedherpersonalfreshnessevennow，intheprosyafternoon-timeofherlife；butwhatherfeatureswereprimarilyindicativeofwasasoundcommonsensebehindthem；asawhole，appearingtocarrywiththemasortofargumentativecommentaryontheworldingeneral。
　　ThedetailsoftheaccidentwerethenrehearsedbyStephen'sfather，inthedramaticmanneralsocommontoMartinCannister，otherindividualsoftheneighbourhood，andtheruralworldgenerally。Mrs。Smiththrewinhersentimentsbetweentheacts，asCoryphaeusofthetragedy，tomakethedescriptioncomplete。
　　Thestoryatlastcametoanend，asthelongestwill，andStephendirectedtheconversationintoanotherchannel。
　　'Well，mother，theyknoweverythingaboutmenow，'hesaidquietly。
　　'Welldone!'repliedhisfather；'nowmymind'satpeace。'
　　'Iblamemyself——Inevershallforgivemyself——fornottellingthembefore，'continuedtheyoungman。
　　Mrs。Smithatthispointabstractedhermindfromtheformersubject。'Idon'tseewhatyouhavetogrieveabout，Stephen，'
　　shesaid。'Peoplewhoaccidentallygetfriendsdon't，asafirststroke，tellthehistoryoftheirfamilies。'
　　'Ye'vedonenowrong，certainly，'saidhisfather。
　　'No；butIshouldhavespokensooner。There'smoreinthisvisitofminethanyouthink——agooddealmore。'
　　'NotmorethanIthink，'Mrs。Smithreplied，lookingcontemplativelyathim。Stephenblushed；andhisfatherlookedfromonetotheotherinastateofutterincomprehension。
　　'She'saprettypieceenough，'Mrs。Smithcontinued，'andverylady-likeandclevertoo。Butthoughshe'sverywellfitforyouasfarasthatis，why，mercy'ponme，whateverdoyouwantanywomanatallforyet？'
　　Johnmadehisnaturallyshortmouthalongone，andwrinkledhisforehead，'That'sthewaythewindd'blow，isit？'hesaid。
　　'Mother，'exclaimedStephen，'howabsurdlyyouspeak!Criticizingwhethershe'sfitformeorno，asiftherewereroomfordoubtonthematter!Why，tomarryherwouldbethegreatblessingofmylife——sociallyandpractically，aswellasinotherrespects。Nosuchgoodfortuneasthat，I'mafraid；she'stoofaraboveme。
　　Herfamilydoesn'twantsuchcountryladsasIinit。'
　　'Theniftheydon'twantyou，I'dseethemdeadcorpsesbeforeI'dwantthem，andgotobetterfamilieswhodowantyou。'
　　'Ah，yes；butIcouldneverputupwiththedistasteofbeingwelcomedamongsuchpeopleasyoumean，whilstIcouldgetindifferenceamongsuchpeopleashers。'
　　'Whatcrazytwisto'thinkingwillenteryourheadnext？'saidhismother。'Andcometothat，she'snotabittoohighforyou，oryoutoolowforher。SeehowcarefulIbetokeepmyselfup。I'msureIneverstopformorethanaminutetogethertotalktoanyjourneymenpeople；andIneverinviteanybodytoourpartyo'
　　Christmaseswhoarenotinbusinessforthemselves。AndItalktoseveraltoppermostcarriagepeoplethatcometomylord'swithoutsayingma'amorsirto'em，andtheytakeitasquietaslambs。'
　　'Youcurtseyedtothevicar，mother；andIwishyouhadn't。'
　　'ButitwasbeforehecalledmebymyChristianname，orhewouldhavegotverylittlecurtseyingfromme!'saidMrs。Smith，bridlingandsparklingwithvexation。'Yougoonatme，Stephen，asifIwereyourworstenemy!WhatelsecouldIdowiththemantogetridofhim，bangingitintomeandyourfatherbysideandbyseam，abouthisgreatness，andwhathappenedwhenhewasayoungfellowatcollege，andIdon'tknowwhat-all；thetongueo'
　　enfloppingroundhismouthlikeamop-ragroundadairy。That'adid，didn'the，John？'
　　'That'saboutthesizeo't，'repliedherhusband。
　　'Everywomannow-a-days，'resumedMrs。Smith，'ifshemarryatall，mustexpectafather-in-lawofaranklowerthanherfather。
　　Themenhavegoneupso，andthewomenhavestoodstill。Everymanyoumeetismorethedandthanhisfather；andyouarejustlevelwi'her。'
　　'That'swhatshethinksherself。'
　　'Itonlyshowshersense。Iknewshewasafter'ee，Stephen——I
　　knewit。'
　　'Afterme!GoodLord，whatnext!'
　　'AndIreallymustsayagainthatyououghtnottobeinsuchahurry，andwaitforafewyears。Youmightgohigherthanabankruptpa'son'sgirlthen。'
　　'Thefactis，mother，'saidStephenimpatiently，'youdon'tknowanythingaboutit。Ishallnevergohigher，becauseIdon'twantto，norshouldIifIlivedtobeahundred。Astoyousayingthatshe'safterme，Idon'tlikesucharemarkabouther，foritimpliesaschemingwoman，andamanworthschemingfor，bothofwhicharenotonlyuntrue，butludicrouslyuntrue，ofthiscase。
　　Isn'titso，father？'
　　'I'mafraidIdon'tunderstandthematterwellenoughtogiemyopinion，'saidhisfather，inthetoneofthefoxwhohadacoldandcouldnotsmell。
　　'Shecouldn'thavebeenverybackwardanyhow，consideringtheshorttimeyouhaveknownher，'saidhismother。'WellIthinkthatfiveyearshenceyou'llbeplentyyoungenoughtothinkofsuchthings。Andreallyshecanverywellaffordtowait，andwilltoo，takemyword。Livingdowninanout-stepplacelikethis，Iamsuresheoughttobeverythankfulthatyoutooknoticeofher。She'dmostlikelyhavediedanoldmaidifyouhadn'tturnedup。'
　　'Allnonsense，'saidStephen，butnotaloud。
　　'Anicelittlethingsheis，'Mrs。SmithwentoninamorecomplacenttonenowthatStephenhadbeentalkeddown；'there'snotawordtosayagainsther，I'llown。Iseehersometimesdeckedoutlikeahorsegoingtofair，andIadmireherfor't。A
　　perfectlittlelady。Butpeoplecan'thelptheirthoughts，andifshe'dlearnttomakefiguresinsteadofletterswhenshewasatschool'twouldhavebeenbetterforherpocket；forasIsaid，thereneverwereworsetimesforsuchasshethannow。'
　　'Now，now，mother!'saidStephenwithsmilingdeprecation。
　　'ButIwill!'saidhismotherwithasperity。'Idon'treadthepapersfornothing，andIknowmenallmoveupastagebymarriage。Menofherclass，thatis，parsons，marrysquires'
　　daughters；squiresmarrylords'daughters；lordsmarrydukes'
　　daughters；dukesmarryqueens'daughters。Allstagesofgentlemenmateastagehigher；andtheloweststageofgentlewomenareleftsingle，ormarryoutoftheirclass。'
　　'Butyousaidjustnow，dearmother——'retortedStephen，unabletoresistthetemptationofshowinghismotherherinconsistency。
　　Thenhepaused。
　　'Well，whatdidIsay？'AndMrs。Smithpreparedherlipsforanewcampaign。
　　Stephen，regrettingthathehadbegun，sinceavolcanomightbetheconsequence，wasobligedtogoon。
　　'YousaidIwasn'toutofherclassjustbefore。'
　　'Yes，there，there!That'syou；that'smyownfleshandblood。
　　I'llwarrantthatyou'llpickholesineverythingyourmothersays，ifyoucan，Stephen。Youarejustlikeyourfatherforthat；takeanybody'spartbutmine。WhilstIamspeakingandtalkingandtryingandslavingawayforyourgood，youarewaitingtocatchmeoutinthatway。Soyouareinherclass，but'tiswhatHERpeoplewouldCALLmarryingoutofherclass。Don'tbesoquarrelsome，Stephen!'
　　Stephenpreservedadiscreetsilence，inwhichhewasimitatedbyhisfather，andforseveralminutesnothingwasheardbutthetickingofthegreen-facedcase-clockagainstthewall。
　　'I'msure，'addedMrs。Smithinamorephilosophictone，andasaterminativespeech，'ifthere'dbeensomuchtroubletogetahusbandinmytimeasthereisinthesedays——whenyoumustmakeagod-almightyofamantogetentohaeye——I'dhavetrodclayforbricksbeforeI'deverhaveloweredmydignitytomarry，orthere'snobreadinnineloaves。'
　　Thediscussionnowdropped，andasitwasgettinglate，Stephenbadehisparentsfarewellfortheevening，hismothernonethelesswarmlyfortheirsparring；foralthoughMrs。SmithandStephenwerealwayscontending，theywereneveratenmity。
　　'Andpossibly，'saidStephen，'Imayleaveherealtogetherto-
　　morrow；Idon'tknow。SothatifIshouldn'tcallagainbeforereturningtoLondon，don'tbealarmed，willyou？'
　　'Butdidn'tyoucomeforafortnight？'saidhismother。'Andhaven'tyouamonth'sholidayaltogether？Theyaregoingtoturnyouout，then？'
　　'Notatall。Imaystaylonger；Imaygo。IfIgo，youhadbettersaynothingaboutmyhavingbeenhere，forhersake。AtwhattimeofthemorningdoesthecarrierpassEndelstowlane？'
　　'Seveno'clock。'
　　Andthenheleftthem。Histhoughtswere，thatshouldthevicarpermithimtobecomeengaged，tohopeforanengagement，orinanywaytothinkofhisbelovedElfride，hemightstaylonger。Shouldhebeforbiddentothinkofanysuchthing，heresolvedtogoatonce。Andthelatter，eventoyounghopefulness，seemedthemoreprobablealternative。
　　Stephenwalkedbacktothevicaragethroughthemeadows，ashehadcome，surroundedbythesoftmusicalpurlofthewaterthroughlittleweirs，themodestlightofthemoon，thefresheningsmellofthedewsout-spreadaround。Itwasatimewhenmereseeingismeditation，andmeditationpeace。StephenwashardlyphilosopherenoughtoavailhimselfofNature'soffer。Hisconstitutionwasmadeupofverysimpleparticulars；wasonewhich，rareinthespring-timeofcivilizations，seemstogrowabundantasanationgetsolder，individualityfades，andeducationspreads；thatis，hisbrainhadextraordinaryreceptivepowers，andnogreatcreativeness。Quicklyacquiringanykindofknowledgehesawaroundhim，andhavingaplasticadaptabilitymorecommoninwomanthaninman，hechangedcolourlikeachameleonasthesocietyhefoundhimselfinassumedahigherandmoreartificialtone。Hehadnotmanyoriginalideas，andyettherewasscarcelyanideatowhich，underpropertraining，hecouldnothaveaddedarespectableco-ordinate。
　　Hesawnothingoutsidehimselfto-night；andwhathesawwithinwasawearinesstohisflesh。Yettoadispassionateobserver，hispretensionstoElfride，thoughratherpremature，werefarfromabsurdasmarriagesgo，unlesstheaccidentalproximityofsimplebuthonestparentscouldbesaidtomakethemso。
　　Theclockstruckelevenwhenheenteredthehouse。Elfridehadbeenwaitingwithscarcelyamovementsincehedeparted。Beforehehadspokentohershecaughtsightofhimpassingintothestudywithherfather。Shesawthathehadbysomemeansobtainedtheprivateinterviewhedesired。
　　AnervousheadachehadbeengrowingontheexcitablegirlduringtheabsenceofStephen，andnowshecoulddonothingbeyondgoingupagaintoherroomasshehaddonebefore。Insteadoflyingdownshesatagaininthedarknesswithoutclosingthedoor，andlistenedwithabeatinghearttoeverysoundfromdownstairs。Theservantshadgonetobed。Sheultimatelyheardthetwomencomefromthestudyandcrosstothedining-room，wheresupperhadbeenlingeringformorethananhour。Thedoorwasleftopen，andshefoundthatthemeal，suchasitwas，passedoffbetweenherfatherandherloverwithoutanyremark，savecommonplacesastocucumbersandmelons，theirwholesomenessandculture，utteredinastiffandformalway。Itseemedtoprefigurefailure。
　　ShortlyafterwardsStephencameupstairstohisbedroom，andwasalmostimmediatelyfollowedbyherfather，whoalsoretiredforthenight。Notinclinedtogetalight，shepartlyundressedandsatonthebed，wheresheremainedinpainedthoughtforsometime，possiblyanhour。Thenrisingtocloseherdoorpreviouslytofullyunrobing，shesawastreakoflightshiningacrossthelanding。Herfather'sdoorwasshut，andhecouldbeheardsnoringregularly。ThelightcamefromStephen'sroom，andtheslightsoundsalsocomingthenceemphaticallydenotedwhathewasdoing。Intheperfectsilenceshecouldheartheclosingofalidandtheclickingofalock，——hewasfasteninghishat-box。Thenthebucklingofstrapsandtheclickofanotherkey，——hewassecuringhisportmanteau。Withtrebledforebodingsheopenedherdoorsoftly，andwenttowardshis。Onesensationpervadedhertodistraction。Stephen，herhandsomeyouthanddarling，wasgoingaway，andshemightneverseehimagainexceptinsecretandinsadness——perhapsnevermore。Atanyrate，shecouldnolongerwaittillthemorningtoheartheresultoftheinterview，asshehadintended。Sheflungherdressing-gownroundher，tappedlightlyathisdoor，andwhispered'Stephen!'Hecameinstantly，openedthedoor，andsteppedout。
　　'Tellme；arewetohope？'
　　Herepliedinadisturbedwhisper，andatearapproacheditsoutlet，thoughnonefell。
　　'Iamnottothinkofsuchapreposterousthing——that'swhathesaid。AndIamgoingto-morrow。Ishouldhavecalledyouuptobidyougood-bye。'
　　'Buthedidn'tsayyouweretogo——OStephen，hedidn'tsaythat？'
　　'No；notinwords。ButIcannotstay。'
　　'Oh，don't，don'tgo!Docomeandletustalk。Letuscomedowntothedrawing-roomforafewminutes；hewillhearushere。'
　　Sheprecededhimdownthestaircasewiththetaperlightinherhand，lookingunnaturallytallandthininthelongdove-coloureddressing-gownshewore。Shedidnotstoptothinkoftheproprietyorotherwiseofthismidnightinterviewundersuchcircumstances。Shethoughtthatthetragedyofherlifewasbeginning，and，forthefirsttimealmost，feltthatherexistencemighthaveagraveside，theshadeofwhichenvelopedandrenderedinvisiblethedelicategradationsofcustomandpunctilio。
　　Elfridesoftlyopenedthedrawing-roomdoorandtheybothwentin。
　　Whenshehadplacedthecandleonthetable，heenclosedherwithhisarms，driedhereyeswithhishandkerchief，andkissedtheirlids。
　　'Stephen，itisover——happyloveisover；andthereisnomoresunshinenow!'
　　'Iwillmakeafortune，andcometoyou，andhaveyou。Yes，I
　　will!'
　　'Papawillneverhearofit——never——never!Youdon'tknowhim。I
　　do。Heiseitherbiassedinfavourofathing，orprejudicedagainstit。Argumentispowerlessagainsteitherfeeling。'
　　'No；Iwon'tthinkofhimso，'saidStephen。'IfIappearbeforehimsometimehenceasamanofestablishedname，hewillacceptme——Iknowhewill。Heisnotawickedman。'
　　'No，heisnotwicked。Butyousay"sometimehence，"asifitwerenotime。Toyou，amongbustleandexcitement，itwillbecomparativelyashorttime，perhaps；oh，tome，itwillbeitsreallengthtrebled!Everysummerwillbeayear——autumnayear——
　　winterayear!OStephen!andyoumayforgetme!'
　　Forget:thatwas，andis，therealstingofwaitingtofond-
　　heartedwoman。TheremarkawokeinStephentheconversefear。
　　'You，too，maybepersuadedtogivemeup，whentimehasmademefainterinyourmemory。For，remember，yourloveformemustbenourishedinsecret；therewillbenolongvisitsfrommetosupportyou。Circumstanceswillalwaystendtoobliterateme。'
　　'Stephen，'shesaid，filledwithherownmisgivings，andunheedinghislastwords，'therearebeautifulwomenwhereyoulive——ofcourseIknowthereare——andtheymaywinyouawayfromme。'Hertearscamevisiblyasshedrewamentalpictureofhisfaithlessness。'Anditwon'tbeyourfault，'shecontinued，lookingintothecandlewithdolefuleyes。'No!Youwillthinkthatourfamilydon'twantyou，andgettoincludemewiththem。
　　Andtherewillbeavacancyinyourheart，andsomeotherswillbeletin。'
　　'Icouldnot，Iwouldnot。Elfie，donotbesofullofforebodings。'
　　'Ohyes，theywill，'shereplied。'Andyouwilllookatthem，notcaringatfirst，andthenyouwilllookandbeinterested，andafterawhileyouwillthink，"Ah，theyknowallaboutcitylife，andassemblies，andcoteries，andthemannersofthetitled，andpoorlittleElfie，withallthefussthat'smadeaboutherhavingme，doesn'tknowaboutanythingbutalittlehouseandafewcliffsandaspaceofsea，faraway。”Andthenyou'llbemoreinterestedinthem，andthey'llmakeyouhavetheminsteadofme，onpurposetobecrueltomebecauseIamsilly，andtheyarecleverandhateme。AndIhatethem，too；yes，Ido!'
　　Herimpulsivewordshadpowertoimpresshimatanyratewiththerecognitionoftheuncertaintyofallthatisnotaccomplished。
　　And，worsethanthatgeneralfeeling，thereofcourseremainedthesadnesswhicharosefromthespecialfeaturesofhisowncase。
　　Howeverremoteadesiredissuemaybe，themerefactofhavingenteredthegroovewhichleadstoit，cheerstosomeextentwithasenseofaccomplishment。HadMr。Swancourtconsentedtoanengagementofnolesslengththantenyears，Stephenwouldhavebeencomparativelycheerfulinwaiting；theywouldhavefeltthattheyweresomewhereontheroadtoCupid'sgarden。But，withapossibilityofashorterprobation，theyhadnotasyetanyprospectofthebeginning；thezeroofhopehadyettobereached。
　　Mr。Swancourtwouldhavetorevokehisformidablewordsbeforethewaitingformarriagecouldevensetin。Andthiswasdespair。
　　'Iwishwecouldmarrynow，'murmuredStephen，asanimpossiblefancy。
　　'SodoI，'saidshealso，asifregardinganidledream。''Tistheonlythingthateverdoessweetheartsgood!'
　　'Secretlywoulddo，woulditnot，Elfie？'
　　'Yes，secretlywoulddo；secretlywouldindeedbebest，'shesaid，andwentonreflectively:'Allwewantistorenderitabsolutelyimpossibleforanyfuturecircumstancetoupsetourfutureintentionofbeinghappytogether；nottobeginbeinghappynow。'
　　'Exactly，'hemurmuredinavoiceandmannerthecounterpartofhers。'Tomarryandpartsecretly，andliveonaswearelivingnow；merelytoputitoutofanybody'spowertoforceyouawayfromme，dearest。'
　　'Oryouawayfromme，Stephen。'
　　'Ormefromyou。Itispossibletoconceiveaforceofcircumstancestrongenoughtomakeanywomanintheworldmarryagainstherwill:noconceivablepressure，uptotortureorstarvation，canmakeawomanoncemarriedtoherloveranybodyelse'swife。'
　　Nowuptothispointtheideaofanimmediatesecretmarriagehadbeenheldbybothasanuntenablehypothesis，wherewithsimplytobeguileamiserablemoment。DuringapausewhichfollowedStephen'slastremark，afascinatingperception，thenanalluringconviction，flashedalongthebrainofboth。TheperceptionwasthatanimmediatemarriageCOULDbecontrived；theconvictionthatsuchanact，inspiteofitsdaring，itsfathomlessresults，itsdeceptiveness，wouldbepreferredbyeachtothelifetheymustleadunderanyotherconditions。
　　Theyouthspokefirst，andhisvoicetrembledwiththemagnitudeoftheconceptionhewascherishing。'Howstrongweshouldfeel，Elfride!goingonourseparatecoursesasbefore，withoutthefearofultimateseparation!OElfride!thinkofit；thinkofit!'
　　Itiscertainthattheyounggirl'sloveforStephenreceivedafanningfromherfather'soppositionwhichmadeitblazewithadozentimestheintensityitwouldhaveexhibitedifleftalone。
　　Neverwereconditionsmorefavourablefordevelopingagirl'sfirstpassingfancyforahandsomeboyishface——afancyrootedininexperienceandnourishedbyseclusion——intoawildunreflectingpassionfervidenoughforanything。Alltheelementsofsuchadevelopmentwerethere，thechiefonebeinghopelessness——anecessaryingredientalwaystoperfectthemixtureoffeelingsunitedunderthenameoflovingtodistraction。
　　'Wewouldtellpapasoon，wouldwenot？'sheinquiredtimidly。
　　'Nobodyelseneedknow。Hewouldthenbeconvincedthatheartscannotbeplayedwith；loveencouragedbereadytogrow，lovediscouragedbereadytodie，atamoment'snotice。Stephen，doyounotthinkthatifmarriagesagainstaparent'sconsentareeverjustifiable，theyarewhenyoungpeoplehavebeenfavoureduptoapoint，aswehave，andthenhavehadthatfavoursuddenlywithdrawn？'
　　'Yes。Itisnotasifwehadfromthebeginningactedinoppositiontoyourpapa'swishes。Onlythink，Elfie，howpleasanthewastowardsmebutsixhoursago!Helikedme，praisedme，neverobjectedtomybeingalonewithyou。'
　　'IbelieveheMUSTlikeyounow，'shecried。'Andifhefoundthatyouirremediablybelongedtome，hewouldownitandhelpyou。'OStephen，Stephen，'sheburstoutagain，astheremembranceofhispackingcameafreshtohermind，'Icannotbearyourgoingawaylikethis!Itistoodreadful。AllIhavebeenexpectingmiserablykilledwithinmelikethis!'
　　Stephenflushedhotwithimpulse。'Iwillnotbeadoubttoyou——
　　thoughtofyoushallnotbeamiserytome!'hesaid。'Wewillbewifeandhusbandbeforewepartforlong!'
　　Shehidherfaceonhisshoulder。'AnythingtomakeSURE!'shewhispered。
　　'Ididnotliketoproposeitimmediately，'continuedStephen。
　　'Itseemedtome——itseemstomenow——liketryingtocatchyou——agirlbetterintheworldthanI。'
　　'Notthat，indeed!AndamIbetterinworldlystation？What'stheuseofhavebeens？Wemayhavebeensomethingonce；wearenothingnow。'
　　Thentheywhisperedlongandearnestlytogether；Stephenhesitatinglyproposingthisandthatplan，Elfridemodifyingthem，withquickbreathings，andhecticflush，andunnaturallybrighteyes。Itwastwoo'clockbeforeanarrangementwasfinallyconcluded。
　　Shethentoldhimtoleaveher，givinghimhislighttogouptohisownroom。Theypartedwithanagreementnottomeetagaininthemorning。Afterhisdoorhadbeensometimeclosedheheardhersoftlyglidingintoherchamber。
　　ChapterXI
　　'Journeysendinloversmeeting。'
　　StephenlaywatchingtheGreatBear；Elfridewasregardingamonotonousparallelogramofwindowblind。Neithersleptthatnight。
　　Earlythenextmorning——thatistosay，fourhoursaftertheirstoleninterview，andjustastheearliestservantwasheardmovingabout——StephenSmithwentdownstairs，portmanteauinhand。
　　ThroughoutthenighthehadintendedtoseeMr。Swancourtagain，butthesharprebuffofthepreviouseveningrenderedsuchaninterviewparticularlydistasteful。Perhapstherewasanotherandlesshonestreason。Hedecidedtoputitoff。Whateverofmoraltimidityorobliquitymayhavelaininsuchadecision，noperceptionofitwasstrongenoughtodetainhim。Hewroteanoteinhisroom，whichstatedsimplythathedidnotfeelhappyinthehouseafterMr。Swancourt'ssuddenvetoonwhathehadfavouredafewhoursbefore；butthathehopedatimewouldcome，andthatsoon，whenhisoriginalfeelingsofpleasureasMr。Swancourt'sguestmightberecovered。
　　Heexpectedtofindthedownstairsroomswearingthegrayandcheerlessaspectthatearlymorninggivestoeverythingoutofthesun。Hefoundinthediningroomabreakfastlaid，ofwhichsomebodyhadjustpartaken。
　　Stephengavethemaid-servanthisnoteofadieu。ShestatedthatMr。Swancourthadrisenearlythatmorning，andmadeanearlybreakfast。Hewasnotgoingawaythatsheknewof。
　　Stephentookacupofcoffee，leftthehouseofhislove，andturnedintothelane。Itwassoearlythattheshadedplacesstillsmeltlikenighttime，andthesunnyspotshadhardlyfeltthesun。Thehorizontalraysmadeeveryshallowdipinthegroundtoshowasawell-markedhollow。Eventhechannelofthepathwasenoughtothrowshade，andtheverystonesoftheroadcasttaperingdashesofdarknesswestward，aslongasJael'stent-nail。
　　Ataspotnotmorethanahundredyardsfromthevicar'sresidencethelaneleadingthencecrossedthehighroad。Stephenreachedthepointofintersection，stoodstillandlistened。Nothingcouldbeheardsavethelengthy，murmuringlineoftheseaupontheadjacentshore。Helookedathiswatch，andthenmountedagateuponwhichheseatedhimself，toawaitthearrivalofthecarrier。Whilsthesatheheardwheelscomingintwodirections。
　　Thevehicleapproachingonhisrighthesoonrecognizedasthecarrier's。Thereweretheaccompanyingsoundsoftheowner'svoiceandthesmackofhiswhip，distinctinthestillmorningair，bywhichheencouragedhishorsesupthehill。
　　TheothersetofwheelssoundedfromthelaneStephenhadjusttraversed。Oncloserobservation，heperceivedthattheyweremovingfromtheprecinctsoftheancientmanor-houseadjoiningthevicaragegrounds。Acarriagethenlefttheentrancegatesofthehouse，andwheelingroundcamefullyinsight。Itwasaplaintravellingcarriage，withasmallquantityofluggage，apparentlyalady's。Thevehiclecametothejunctionofthefourwayshalf-
　　a-minutebeforethecarrierreachedthesamespot，andcrosseddirectlyinhisfront，proceedingbythelaneontheotherside。
　　InsidethecarriageStephencouldjustdiscernanelderlyladywithayoungerwoman，whoseemedtobehermaid。TheroadtheyhadtakenledtoStratleigh，asmallwatering-placesixteenmilesnorth。
　　Heheardthemanor-housegatesswingagain，andlookingupsawanotherpersonleavingthem，andwalkingoffinthedirectionoftheparsonage。'Ah，howmuchIwishIweremovingthatway!'feltheparenthetically。Thegentlemanwastall，andresembledMr。
　　Swancourtinoutlineandattire。Heopenedthevicaragegateandwentin。Mr。Swancourt，then，itcertainlywas。InsteadofremaininginbedthatmorningMr。Swancourtmusthavetakenitintohisheadtoseehisnewneighbouroffonajourney。Hemusthavebeengreatlyinterestedinthatneighbourtodosuchanunusualthing。
　　Thecarrier'sconveyancehadpulledup，andStephennowhandedinhisportmanteauandmountedtheshafts。'Whoisthatladyinthecarriage？'heinquiredindifferentlyofLickpanthecarrier。
　　'That，sir，isMrs。Troyton，awidderwi'aminto'money。She'stheownerofallthatpartofEndelstowthatisnotLordLuxellian's。Onlybeenhereashorttime；shecameintoitbylaw。Theownerformerlywasaterriblemysteriousparty——neverlivedhere——hardlyeverwasseenhereexceptinthemonthofSeptember，asImightsay。'
　　Thehorseswerestartedagain，andnoiserenderedfurtherdiscourseamatteroftoogreatexertion。Stephencreptinsideunderthetilt，andwassoonlostinreverie。